Cabinet with elevator support platform

ABSTRACT

A cabinet structure including a storage area therewithin and including front door structure defining the forward extremity of the storage area and shiftable to an open position for exposing the storage area. The cabinet structure further includes top door structure defining the upper extremity of the storage area and the top door structure may also be shifted between a closed position closing the upper extremity of the storage area and an open position to expose the storage area from above. A support platform is mounted within the storage area and is adapted to have an electrical appliance such as a television set or a sewing machine as well as other non-electrically powered structures supported therefrom. The platform is mounted within the storage area for guided vertical shifting and motor means is operatively connected to the support platform for raising and lowering the same. Also, the support platform includes a turntable upon which the associated television set may be rested and in this manner the television set may be viewed through the front of the cabinet when the support platform is in a lowered position and the front door structure is open or viewed from the front with the television set projecting above the top of the cabinet when the support platform is in its raised position and when the platform is in its uppermost position the turntable may be adjusted in order to allow the television set supported therefrom to face in substantially any direction.

United States Patent [191 Cory [ Sept. 25, 1973 [76] Inventor:

[ CABINET WITH ELEVATOR SUPPORT PLATFORM John H. Cory, 6915 NE. 3 Ave., Miami, Fla. 33138 [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 170,445

[52] US. Cl. 312/7 TV, 312/21, 312/3-12 [51] Int. Cl. A4711 81/06 [58] Field of Search 312/7, 7 TV, 8, 21,

Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien et a1.

57 ABSTRACT A cabinet structure including a storage area therewithin and including front door structure defining the forward extremity of the storage area and shiftable to an open position for exposing the storage area. The cabinet structure further includes top door structure defining the upper extremity of the storage area and the top door structure may also be shifted between a closed position closing the upper extremity of the storage area and an open position to expose the storage area from above. A support platform is mounted within the storage area and is adapted to have an electrical appliance such as a television set or a sewing machine as well as other non-electrically powered structures supported therefrom. The platform is mounted within the storage area for guided vertical shifting and motor means is operatively connected to the support platform for raising and lowering the same. Also, the support platform includes a turntable upon which the associated television set may be rested and in this manner the television set may be viewed through the front of the cabinet when the support platform is in a lowered position and the front door structure is open or viewed from the front with the television set projecting above the top of the cabinet when the support platform is in its raised position and when the platform is in its uppermost position the turntable may be adjusted in order to allow the television set supported therefrom to face in substantially any direction.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures I PAIENIEDSEPZSW 3.761.152

SHEETIDFZ x x x x x John H. Cary [AW EDITOR.

CABINET WITH ELEVATOR SUPPORT PLATFORM The cabinet of the instant invention has been primarily designed to support a television set from the vertically shiftable support platform thereof. However, other electrical appliances such as record changers, stereo receivers and sewing machines as well as nonelectrified assemblies such as a bar assembly may be stored within the cabinet.

The main object of this invention is to provide a cabinet for housing a television receiver with the cabinet including not only front doors through which the television set may be viewed but also upper doors which may be opened and a vertically shiftable platform upon which the associated television receiver may be placed in order that the platform may be raised so as to project the associated television receiver upwardly through the open top of the cabinet for viewing while disposed above the top of the cabinet.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a support platform with a powered turntable whereby a television set supported from a support platform and elevated above the top of the cabinet may be adjustably rotated so as to face in substantially any horizontal.-

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects and including positive motor means for raising the support platform as well as lowering the support platform.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a cabinet in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to operate so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the cabinet of the instant invention with a television receiversupported from the vertically shiftable platform of the cabinet and the support platform of the cabinet positioned in its upper limit position, the lower limit position of the platform and associated television receiver being illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the cabinet as seen from below and illustrating the motor and drive mechanism utilized in lifting the support platform;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the motor and drive assembly utilized to lower the support platform;

FIG. 4 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the motor and drive assembly as well as portions of the associated support platform;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the lifting and lowering cables are operatively connected to the lift members from which the support platform is supported;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the motor driven turntable portion of the support platform;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken'substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the turntable assembly and as seen from below; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the slip coupling by which the turntable motor is drivingly connected to the turntable and with the normally engaged components of the slip coupling illustrated in spaced relation to more clearly illustrate the structural details thereof.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the cabinet of the instant invention. The cabinet 10 includes upstanding front and rear walls 12 and 14 interconnected by means of opposite end walls 16 and 18. A top wall 20 extends between the upper marginal edge portions of the walls l2, 14, 16 and 18 and the top wall 20 has a central opening 24 formed therein.

In addition, the front wall 14 has an opening 26 therein and the opening 26 may be closed by means of I a pair of opposite side horizontally swingable doors 30 hingedly supported from the marginal edge portions of the front wall 14 defining the sides of the opening 26.

Further, a top door 32 is provided and hingedly supported along its rear marginal edge portion as at 34 from the rear wall 14 of the cabinet 10 and the top door 32 is swingable between the closed horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings and the forwardly and upwardly inclined position illustrated in FIG. 1.

The interior of the cabinet 10 is divided into opposite end compartments 38 and a central compartment or storage area 40 disposed between the end compartments 38 and in horizontal and vertical registry with the openings 26 and 24, respectively. The opposite sides of the center compartment or storage area 40 are separated from the end compartments by means of pairs of closely spaced partition walls 42 and 44 extending between the front and rear walls 12 and 14 and the top wall 20 and the bottom wall 46. Each of the partitions 42 and 44 includes a'pair of vertical slots 48 and a support platform referred to in general by the reference numeral 50 is disposed within the storage area 40 and includes endwise outwardly projecting pairs of front and rear support bars 52 which are slidingly received through the corresponding slots 48.

The support platform 50 further includes an upper turntable 54 journalled from the support platform 50 by suitable bearing means 56 and the turntable 54 loosely receives depending threaded bolt or shaft 58 centrally therethrough. A first friction disc 60 is disposed on the upper end of the bolt 58 immediately beneath and is anchored to the turntable 54. A second friction disc 62 is rotatably disposed on the bolt 58 beneath the disc 60 and a drive disc 64 including a threaded nut portion 66 is threaded on the bolt 58 below the disc 62. Disc 62 is also slidable along the bolt 58 and includes a pair of diametrically opposite downwardly opening blind bores 68 which upwardly projecting drive pins 70 carried by the disc 64 are receivable for keying the disc 64 to the disc 62. Further, a compression spring 72 is disposed about the bolt 58 intermediate the discs 62 and 64 and yieldingly biases the disc 62 upwardly into frictional contact with the disc 60. A second lock nut 74 is threaded on the bolt 58 below the nut portion 66 and a worm wheel 76 is secured on the bolt 58 below the nut 74 in any conventional manner.

An electric motor 77 is supported within the support platform and includes an output shaft 78 having a worm gear 80 mounted thereon and meshed with the worm wheel 76. The motor 77 is of the reversible type and accordingly, the turntable 54 may be rotated in either direction.

The worm wheel 76 includes a radially outwardly projecting abutment arm 82 and a pair of limit switches 84 and 86 are supported in a stationary position from the support platform 50 and include actuators 88 and 90, respectively, engagable by the outer end of the abutment arm 82. Further, a third microswitch 92 including an actuator 94 is also stationarily supported from support platform 50 and engagable by the outer end of the abutment arm 82, the microswitch 92 being disposed on a radius of the shaft 58 which bisects the larger angle defined by radii of the shaft 58 passing through the actuators 88 and 90. Still further, the support platform 50 includes a microswitch 96 including an actuator 98.

An electric drive motor 100 is mounted on the left hand end compartment 38 and includes an output shaft 102 upon which a drive pulley 104 is mounted. A first upstanding jack shaft 106 is journalled through the bottom wall or floor 46 and includes an input pulley 108 aligned with the drive pulley 104 and an output pulley 110 aligned with an input pulley 112 carried by a winding drum shaft 114 also journalled from the bottom wall 46. The winding drum shaft 114 has a pair of winding drums 116 and 118 mounted thereon and the winding drums 116 and 118 are horizontally registered with idle pulleys 120 and 122 journalled from a support shaft 124 at the left hand end of the cabinet 10.

A pair of idle pulleys 126 and 128 are journalled from the bottom wall 46 and a pair of cable sections 130 and 132 are passed beneath the pulleys 126 and 128 and about an idle pulley 134 and are anchored to one end of an anchor plate 136 as at 138. In addition, the opposite ends of the anchor plate 136 have idle pulleys 140 and 142 journalled therefrom and a stationary anchor plate 146 is supported beneath the right hand end of the bottom wall 46 and has an idle pulley 148 journalled therefrom.

Still further, a second stationary anchor plate 150 is supported from bottom wall 46 and a pair of depending support shafts 152 and 154 similar to the shaft 124 are supported from the right hand end of the bottom wall 46 and have double idle pulleys 156 and 158 journalled therefrom. Further, a double idle pulley 160 is journalled beneath the bottom wall 46 in registry with the vertical spacing between the right hand partitions 42 and 44 and a double idle pulley, similar to the idle pulley 160 and referred to by the reference numeral 162, is journalled beneath the bottom wall 46 in vertical registry with the spacing between the left hand partitions 42 and 44.

The cable sections 130 and 132 have one pair of corresponding ends thereof anchored to the midportions of front to rear extending lift bars 163 guidingly disposed in the vertical spacing between the pairs of partitions 42 and 44 and the other pair of ends of the cable sections 130 and 132 are anchored to the plate 136 and 138. A third cable section has one end thereof wound about the winding drum 116 and the other end thereof passes about the idle pulley 120 and thereafter about the idle pulley 148 and the idle pulley 142 before being anchored to the anchor plate 146 as at 172.

Still another cable section 174 has one end thereof secured to the winding drum section 118 and the other end of the cable section 174 passes about the idle pulley 122 and thereafter the idle pulley 140 and is secured to the anchor plate 150 as at 176. Two other pairs of cable sections and 182 are provided and pass beneath the idle pulleys 160 and 162, respectively, and thereafter about the idle pulleys 156 and 158 and are secured to the anchor plate 136 as at 184. The ends of each pair of cables 180 and 182 remote from the anchor plate 184 pass over corresponding front and rear idle pulleys 186 and 188 journalled between each pair of partitions 42 and 44 adjacent the top wall 20 of the cabinet 10. The free ends of the cables 180 and 182 are secured to the opposite ends of the lift bars 163.

It will be noted that the cable sections 170 and 174 are wound in opposite directions on the winding drum sections 116 and 118 and therefore that while one cable section is being wound on its corresponding winding drum section the other cable section will be unwound from its winding drum section. Therefore, rotation of the motor output shaft 102 in one direction will cause one set of cables to lift upwardly on the lift bars 163 while the other cable sections are being played out and rotation of the motor output shaft 102 in the opposite direction will cause the other cable sections to pull downwardly on the lift bars.

Supported from the bottom wall 46 is a safety switch 190 and a light-weight panel 192 hingedly supported from the bottom wall 46 as at 194 overlies the switch 190 and is operative to open the latter in response to a weight being placed on the panel 192.

A suitable control assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 194 is supported in the left hand end compartment 38 and is operatively associated with a pair of terminals 196 to which any adjacent or remote control actuators may be connected.

A pair of limit switches 198 and 200 are supported within the left hand end compartment 38 and a pair of associated spring mounted actuators 202 and 204 are operatively associated with the limit switches 198 and 200 for actuation thereby in response to the actuators 202 and 204 being engaged by the left hand lift bar 163.

Of course, the limit switch 198 is serially connected in the electrical circuit for actuation of the motor 100 to lower the support platform 50 and the limit switch 200 is serially connected in the circuit for actuation of the motor 100 to raise the support platform 50 thereby insuring that the support platform 50 will not be lowered below a predetermined lower position or raised above a predetermined upper position. Further, the switch 190 is also serially connected in the circuit for controlling operation of the motor 100 to lower the support platform 50 thereby insuring that should a small child crawl into the storage area 40 below the support platform 50 when the latter is in its upper position it will not be possible to lower the support platform. Still further, the switches 84 and 86 are of course serially connected in the circuits controlling operation of the motor 77 in opposite directions and thereby limit turning of the turntable 54. Also, the microswitch 92 is serially connected in the circuit controlling the operation of the motor 100 to lower the support platform 50 whereby the motor 100 may not be operated until such time as the turntable 54 is in its centered position. Finally, the microswitch 96 is electrically connected in both of the circuits controlling the operation of the motor 77 whereby the turntable 54 may not be rotated until such time as the support platform 50 is elevated to its uppermost limit position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressuresensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storagearea, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense I the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

2. The combination of claim 1 including front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said port platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means contro means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.

4. The combination ofclaim 3 including turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.

5. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between alowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and closed positions relative to said openings, a pressuresensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive'panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

6. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressuresensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position, turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a pressuresensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said power means includes a friction resisted slip-type drive coupling with said turntable, whereby the latter may be angularly adjusted according to an object positioned thereon to obtain the desired orientation of the object when said turntable is in said intermediate position and the motor means may continue to operate if an obstruction preventing return of the turntable to its intermediate position is encountered.

9. An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area,.a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed in a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform and disposed within said storage area when said platform is in its lowered position may be projected upwardly and at least partially outwardly of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

10. An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area. said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertically shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed within a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform within a lower portion of said storage area when said platform is in its lowwred position may be projected upwardly to a position projecting upwardly out of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.

11. The combination of claim 10 including turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the posivent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position. 

1. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and closed positions relative to said openings.
 3. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generaly horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.
 4. The combination of claim 3 including turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.
 5. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and closed positions relative to said openings, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.
 6. An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projEcted upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position, turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said power means includes a friction resisted slip-type drive coupling with said turntable, whereby the latter may be angularly adjusted according to an object positioned thereon to obtain the desired orientation of the object when said turntable is in said intermediate position and the motor means may continue to operate if an obstruction preventing return of the turntable to its intermediate position is encountered.
 9. An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed in a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform and disposed within said storage area when said platform is in its lowered position may be projected upwardly and at least partially outwardly of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower saId support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.
 10. An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertically shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed within a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform within a lower portion of said storage area when said platform is in its lowwred position may be projected upwardly to a position projecting upwardly out of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.
 11. The combination of claim 10 including turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable posigioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position. 